Improvement in mattresses



J. A. TORREY.

MATTRESSES. 110.187.9552. Patented March 6. 1877.

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UNITED STATES PATENT JOSEPH A. TORBEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MATTRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 187,992, dated March 6, 1877; application filed June 3, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. TORREY, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mattresses; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mattresses; and consists in making a solid stuffed mattress of the ordinary, or any desired, thickness in its central part, where it is exposed to its greatest wear during use, and made gradually tapering to its head and foot ends, or either of them, by which I am able to produce a mattress having the following advantages over the ordinary box shaped mattresses, namely: First, it is better adapted to the shape of the body, as it is fullest, and consequently more elastic, under that part of the body which is heaviest, and less so toward the extremities where less support is needed; second, it is less liable to pack and lose its shape, which is a great source of annoyance with the ordinary box-shaped mattresses, that speedily pack down to a hollow or sunken shape in the middle part; third, it is a great deal lighter than the ordinary ones, and, therefore, preferable when handled during the making up of the bed; and, finally, it can be made at a less price than the common ones, inasmuch as a considerable saving is effected 00th in the covering and its seams, as well as in the stuffing material, particularly so when horse-hair or similar expensive stuffing materials are used.

Even when new the ordinary box-shaped mattresses have a tendency to sag down in the middle, on account of the greater central elasticity of the usual slats or spring beds as compared with the more rigid end supports,

- and this sagging in the middle is very much a support for the body at all times comfortable.

On the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a plan view of my invention. Fig. 2 represents a side view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a central longitudinal section on the line A B, shown in Fig. l, and Fig. 4 represents a cross-section on the line 0 I), also shown in Fig. 1.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of the drawing.

or represents my improved mattress, on which I; and c are the head and foot ends, and d c are the sides.

It will be seen, by reference to the drawing, that my improved mattress is made of the proper thickness in the center part, and made gradually tapering toward the ends I) and c, the side pieces d and 0 being for this purpose made of a corresponding form, as shown in Fig. 2.

Without departing from the spirit of my invention, I may make the taper from the central part toward either of the ends 0 and c of a linear or curved form, and this taper may commence in the middle of the mattress, or a part of the mattress may be made of an even thickness and gradually running out, tapering toward its ends I) and c, for the purposes set forth and heretofore described.

I am aware that an elliptical spring-bed has heretofore been constructed, and also that a spring-pillow and air bed have been constructed in which the covering is brought to an edge on all sides, and such I do not claim as my invention; but

What I do claim is- A mattress stufied throughout with any suitable filling, when made of suitable thickness at the middle portion and diminishing in thickness toward the head or foot, or both, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I have affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH A. TURKEY. Witnesses:

ALBAN ANDREN, HENRY GHADBOURN. 

